Yarn identification means

ABSTRACT

Means for visually identifying the source, type and character of yarn wound on a textile bobbin is disclosed. The means comprises a two-piece device removably mounted on the top end cap of the bobbin, each piece having a distinctive, predetermined visual characteristic (e.g., color). The two main parts of the device comprise an annular sleeve member having a plurality of resilient tongue portions adapted to enter an opening formed in the top end cap of the bobbin, and a sleeve-locking member having an elongated shank portion adapted to enter the central opening of said annular sleeve member. When the shank portion of the locking member is fully inserted in the sleeve member the resilient tongue portions of the sleeve member are displaced radially outwardly and the sleeve member is thereby locked in place in the opening of the top and end cap.

United States Patent [72] Inventors William G. Hagmann Somervllle;Philip R. Worn, Princeton, both of, NJ. [21] Appl. No. 885,892 [221Filed Dec.l7,1969 [45] Patented July 13, 1971 [73] Assignee BaldtCorporation a New York, N.Y.

Continnatiomlmpart of application Ser. No. 832,672, June 12, 1969.

[54] YARN IDENTIFICATION MEANS 13 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.Cl 2412/1183, 40/309 [51] lnt.Cl 1865b 75/10 {50] FieldofSearch 242/1l8.3, 118.31,118.32,118.4,118.7,118.61,118; 40/309;16/121; 85/84 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,858,4105/1932 Morey 40/309 2,622,825 12/1952 Faris 242/1 18.61

Primary ExaminerGeorge F. Mautz Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylorand Adams ABSTRACT: Means for visually identifying the source, type andcharacter of yarn wound on a textile bobbin is disclosed. The meanscomprises a two-piece device removably mounted on the top end cap of thebobbin, each piece having a distinctive, predetermined visualcharacteristic (e.g., color). The two main parts of the device comprisean annular sleeve member having a plurality of resilient tongue portionsadapted to enter an opening formed in the top end cap of the bobbin, anda sleeve-locking member having an elongated shank portion adapted toenter the central opening of said annular sleeve member. When the shankportion of the locking member is fully inserted in the sleeve member theresilient tongue portions of the sleeve member are displaced radiallyoutwardly and the sleeve member is thereby locked in place in theopening of the top and end cap.

3s 1111 I I lid WM PATENIEUJuuwn 7 3,592,407.

' sum 1 0F 2 L INVENTORS WILLIAM G. HAGMANN Q. I I Q BY PHILIP;.WORN vATTORNEYS sum 2 0F 2 3592.407

l G u 1C F I gulf/lul 6 g//J .2 i w L Mil m 5 m F LE, 1: 4 I a 1 s w 4 l.lrl/lf/I INVEIx .ORS WILLIAM G. HAGMANN BY PHILIP R. WORN ATTORNEYSPATENIEU JUL 1 3 IQYI YARN IDENTIFICATION MEANS RELATED APPLICATION Thisapplication is a continuation-in-part of the copending application ofWilliam G. Hagmann and Philip R. Worn Ser. No. 832,672, filed June 12,1969, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This inventionrelates to yarn carriers such as textile bobbins, and more particularlyto means removably mounted on the top end of such yarn carriers forvisually denoting the source and character of the yarn wound on thecarrier.

2. The Prior Art Synthetic fibers are made from a variety of materials(for example, nylon, polyester and the like) by a number of differentmanufacturers. Yarns made from these fibers may possess any of a numberof predetermined properties or characteristics such as denier, filamentcount, finish, twist and the like. After being manufactured, or-as thelast step in the manufacturing process, the yarn is wound on a standardyarn carrier (usually a tubular pirn or bobbin) to form a yarn package.The yarn package is then stored, shipped and, ultimately, mounted on amachine for the purpose of carrying out secondary operations (e.g., yarntexturing) or for conversion into a finished textile product. After theyarn on the yarn carrier (e.g., the pirn) is consumed, the empty carrieris returned to the yarn manufacturer for reuse.

Textile manufacturers normally keep in stock a wide variety of yarnsobtained from a number of different yarn manufacturers. When a specifictextile product (e.g., nylon stockings of a certain weight) ismanufactured, yarn packages containing yarns of a specificied type andcharacter are required to be mounted in a precisely ordered array on theloom or knitting machine. However, each manufacturer has his own systemfor marking his yarn packages to denote the type of material (e.g.,nylon, polyester, etc.). and the characteristics of the yarn thereon(e.g., denier, filament count, etc.). Moreover, when yarn is wound on aconventional yarn carrier (e.g., a pirn) the outer surface of thecarrier is almost completely covered with the yarn leaving only the topand bottom ends of the yarn carrier exposed to view. The exposed ends ofthe yarn carrier can be utilized to denote the source or certain of thecharacteristics of the yarn wound on the carrier. However, the amount ofinformation that can thus be conveyed to the user of the yarn is limitedby the restricted space available in which to display the information.As a result, confusion, delay and, all too often, costly errors in yarnidentification take place when yarns ofa specified type and charactercontained in yarn packages having inadequate and nonstandardizedmarkings are being mounted on a loom or knitting machine or otherapparatus.

The problem of accurate and rapid identification of the type andcharacter of yarn on a given yarn carrier has become increasinglyimportant in view of the increase in the number of fiber materials andthe diversity of yarn characteristics that are now available and in wideuse in the industry. However, despite the importance of the problem andits seemingly simple nature, the problem has persisted and grown worsethrough the years in spite of the efforts of many to arrive at aneconomical and practical solution thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION After an intensive investigation into possiblesolutions for the aforementioned problem we have devised a new yarnidentification system which visually conveys to the yarn user anyinformation concerning the source, type and character of yarn wound on agiven yarn carrier that the yarn producer or his customer regards asimportant to know. Our new system involves the use of yarnidentification means comprising two cooperating parts or membersremovably mounted on the top of a yarn carrier and in particular on thetop end cap of a conventional textile bobbin, the two cooperatingmembers each having a predetermined visual characteristic for visuallydenoting the source, type and character of the yarn wound on the yarncarrier. Specifically, the yarn identification means comprises anannular sleeve member having a plurality of resilient tongue portionsdepending therefrom and a sleeve locking member having an elongatedshank portion adapted to enter the central opening of the annular sleevemember. The

resilient tongue portions of the annular sleeve member are adapted toenter an opening formed in the top of a yarn carrier, each resilienttongue portion being provided with an inwardly projecting shank engagingsurface. The lower end of the shank portion of the sleeve locking memberis adapted to engage the shank-engaging surface of the resilient tongueportions of the annular sleeve member and to displace said tongueportions radially outwardly when the shank portion is fully insertedinto the sleeve member.

In the preferred embodiment of our invention the annular sleeve memberhas an upper flange portion, a generally cylindrical main body portionand a skirt portion of smaller diameter depending therefrom, the skirtportion being formed with a plurality circumferentially spaced verticalslots that advantageously extend substantially the full length of saidskirt portion. These vertical slots define a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced resilient tongue portions that are adapted toenter, and that closely conform to the periphery of,the opening formedin the top end cap ofa textile bobbin on other yarn carrier. In thisembodiment the sleeve locking member has a fiangelike upper portion andan elongated lower shank portion, the lower end of the shank portionbeing enlarged to'that when the shank portion engages the inwardlyprojecting shank-engaging surfaces of the resilient tongue portions theshank portion will be retained in engagement therewith.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Our improved means for identifying thecharacter of yarn wound on a yarn carrier will be better understood fromthe following description thereof in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings of which,

FIG. 1 is an exploded view, partly in section, of one embodiment of thetwo-piece yarn identification means of our invention in position to beinserted in the top end cap of a conventional yarn-carrying pirn,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the top end of the textile pirn of FIG. 1showing the yarn identification means of our invention mounted thereon,

FIG. 3 is a view from below of the annular sleeve member of the yarnidentification means of our invention,

FIG. 4 is an exploded view, partly in section, of an advantageousmodification of the yarn identification means of the invention, and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the yarn identification means of FIG. 4mounted on the top end of a pirn.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Synthetic fiber yarn isnormally wound on a suitableyarn carrier to form a yarn package. The present invention providesmeans for identifying some or all of the characteristics of the yarnwound on the yarn carrier. The yarn identification means of theinvention may be used with any type of yarn carrier that has an exposedupper end on which the two cooperating members-comprising said means canbe mounted. However, our yarn identification means is particularly wellsuited to be used in combination with the type of textile bobbin or pirnwhich comprises a tubular metal barrel having a plastic drive end capand top end cap secured to each end thereof and a plastic sleevecovering the outer surface thereof. Textile bobbins of this type areexemplified by, but are not-limited to, the bobbins described in US.Pat. Nos. 3,307,067 and 3,095,161 of Atwood et al., and our yarnidentification means will be described in conjunction therewith.

As shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 the yarn carrier or bobbin in combinationwith which the yarn identification means of our invention is adapted tobe used comprises a tubular steel barrel 11 into the bottom end of whichis force fitted a plastic drive end cap (not shown) and into the top endof which is force fitted a plastic top end cap 13. A tubular sleeve 14of plastic is disposed over the outside of the tubular metal barrel 11,the upper end of the sleeve 14 being fitted into an annular groove 15formed in the top end cap 13. The top end cap 13 is formed with acentrally positioned opening 16 and with a discreceiving recess 17, thedisc-receiving recess being adapted to receive a circular paper disc(not shown) having yarn identification information printed thereon.

The means for visually identifying the source, type and characteristicsof yarn wound on the textile bobbin 10 comprises two cooperating insertmembers adapted to be removably mounted on the top end cap 13 of thebobbin, each insert member having a predetermined visual characteristic(e.g., a specific color) that denotes one or more characteristics of theyarn. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 the cooperating insertmembers comprise an annular sleeve member 18 and a sleeve locking member19 shown separately in FIG. 1, these members being removably securedtogether and to the top end cap 13 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawing the annular sleeve member 18has a generally cylindrical main body portion 20 and a skirt portion 21of smaller diameter depending therefrom. The skirt portion 21 is formedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical slots 22 whichadvantageously, but not necessarily, extend the full length of the skirtportion, these vertical slots defining a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced resilient tongue portions 23. The circumferentially spacedresilient tongue portions 23 are adapted to enter the central opening 16formed in the top end cap 13, the outer periphery of the tongue portions23 conforming closely to the inner periphery of the opening 16. Eachresilient tongue portion 23 is formed with an inwardly projectingshank-engaging surface 24 which engages and grips the shank portion ofthe sleeve locking member in a manner hereinafter described. In order tocontrol the depth or extent to which the sleeve member 18 extends intothe opening 16, the generally cylindrical main body portion 20 of thesleeve member is formed with a shoulder portion 25 which is adapted toabut against the upwardly facing surface 26 of the recess 17 formed inthe top end cap 13. In addition, in this embodiment of our invention theannular sleeve member 18 is provided with an upper flange portion 27that is spaced a short distance vertically away from the top end cap 13by the shoulder 25 of the sleeve member. The flange portion 27 isdesigned to carry visual information concerning the characteristics ofthe yarn wound on the yarn carrier and also to provide means forhandling the yarn package without touching the yarn wound thereon.

The sleeve locking member 19 has a flangelike upper portion 30 and anelongated shank portion 31. The shank portion 31 is adapted to enter thecentral opening of the annular sleeve member 18 and, when fully insertedtherein, to engage the inwardly projecting shank-engaging surfaces 24thereof. When the shank portion 31 is inserted in the central opening ofthe sleeve member 18, the lower end of the shank portion presses againstthe inwardly projecting shank-engaging surfaces 24 of the resilienttongue portions 23 and thereby wedges or displaces the tongue portionsradially outwardly as shown in FIG. 2. In the preferred embodiment ofour invention the lower end of the shank portion 31 is provided with anenlarged end portion 32 which is gripped by the inwardly projectingshank-engaging surfaces 24 of the sleeve member 18 when the lockingmember 19 is fully inserted therein as shown in FIG. 2.

The sleeve locking member 19 is formed with a shoulder portion 33 thatis adapted to abut against an upwardly facing annular surface 35 of theannular sleeve member 18, thereby preventing insertion of the sleevelocking member into the sleeve member beyond a predetermined depth. Inthe preferred embodiment of our invention the depth of insertion of thelocking member 19 into the sleeve member 18 is controlled so that theflangelike upper portion 30 of the locking member 19 is spaced a shortdistance vertically away from the upper flange portion 27 of the sleevemember 18. The vertical spacing of the flangelike portion 30 and theupper flange portion 27 makes the visual information carried by theflange portion 27 more readily discernible and, in addition, facilitatesdisassembly of the two members hereinafter described.

The upper surface of the flangelike upper portion 30 of the sleevelocking member 19 is advantageously formed with a disc-receiving recess36 similar to the disc-receiving recess 17 formed in the top end cap 13of the bobbin 10. If desired, a paper or cardboard disc 37 havinginformation concerning the characteristics of yarn carried on the pirncan be inserted in the recess 36 as shown in FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawing the cooperatinginsert members comprise the annular sleeve member 38 and the sleevelocking member 19. The annular sleeve member 38 has a generallycylindrical main body portion 40 and a skirt portion 41 dependingtherefrom. As before, the skirt portion 41 is formed with a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced vertical slots 42 which define a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced resilient tongue portions 43. The resilienttongue portions 43 are adapted to enter the central opening formed inthe top end cap 13 of the bobbin l0, and each tongue portion 43 isformed with an inwardly projecting shank-engaging surface 44 which isadapted to engage and grip the shank portion 31 of the sleeve lockingmember 19 in the manner previously described. The sleeve member 38 isalso provided with an annular shoulder member 45 that is spaced radiallyoutwardly of the main body portion 40 by the annular recess 46. Theannular shoulder member 45 is adapted to abut against the upwardlyfacing surface 26 of the top end cap 13, thereby controlling the depthor extent to which the sleeve member 38 may be inserted into the opening16 of the top end cap. The outside diameter of the annular shouldermember 45 is advantageously only slightly smaller than the smallestdiameter of the recess 17 so that the sleeve member 38 will have themaximum possible lateral stability when the resilient tongue portions 43are fully inserted in the opening 16. In all other respects the sleevemember 38 cooperates with the top end cap 13 and with the sleeve lockingmember 19 in the manner previously described.

By the use of yarn identification means of our invention it is possibleto convey any information concerning yarn type and character regarded byyarn producers or by yarn users as important simply by conforming thevisual characteristics of the sleeve member 18 (or sleeve member 38) andthe locking member 19 to a predetermined standard system of yarnidentification (for example, a color-coded system of yarnidentification). Thus, a yarn package having a red sleeve member 18 anda black locking member 19 might denote 15 denier monofilament nylon yarnwith an S-twist whereas a black sleeve member 18 and a red lockingmember 19 might denote the same yarn with a Z-twist. Other colorcombinations would denote other types of yarns with othercharacteristics. Additional color-coded information concerning thecharacteristics of the yarn carried on the bobbin can be conveyed byproviding the bobbin with a top end cap 13 and an outer sleeve 14 ofdifferent predetermined colors. The amount and variety of informationthat can be conveyed to yarn users by the color-coded sleeve member 18and locking member 19, in conjunction with color-coded end cap 13 andouter sleeve 14, is limited only by the number of color combinationsavailable to the manufacturer. Supplemental information concerning theyarn not conveyed by the yarn identification system of our invention maybe carried on a paper disc 37 inserted in the disc-receiving recess 36of the sleeve locking member 19.

After a bobbin has been used to carry yarn of one type and character itmay be desired to use the same bobbin to carry yarn of a different typeand character. In such case, the sleeve locking member 19 is removedfrom within the sleeve member 18 (or the sleeve member 38, as the casemay be), thereby allowing the resilient tongue members to resume theirnormal or nondisplaced position shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 4. The sleevemember 18 is then withdrawn from the opening 16 and a different sleevemember 18 and locking member 19 having different predetermined visualcharacteristics are mounted on the top end cap 13 as in the mannerpreviously described. Accordingly, it is contemplated that yarnproducers will be provided with a number of interchangeable sleevemembers 18 and locking members 19 of various colors (or other visualcharacteristics), the interchangeability of the various members l8 andthe interchangeability of the various members 19 being an essentialfeature of our invention.

Bobbins and other types of yarn carriers are frequently mounted oncreels and other such devices above the eye level of the workerattending the machine. In such circumstances it may be difficult for theworker to easily see the top ends of the various bobbins. However, aspreviously mentioned, in the preferred embodiment of our invention theupper flange portion 27 of the sleeve member 18 is spaced verticallyaway from the top end cap 13, and the flangelike portion 30 of thesleeve locking member 19 is spaced vertically away from the said flangeportion 27, so that all three parts (i.e., the end cap 13, the sleevemember 18 and the locking member 19) are clearly visible to a workerlooking upwardly at the bobbins mounted on the creel. Moreover, theouter sleeve 14 of the bobbin i0 is also visible to the worker so that,if desired, a four-color colorcoded yarn identification system can beemployed even when the bobbins are mounted above eye level.

The yarn identification means of our invention not only provides aconvenient and rapid means for identifying type and character of yarnwound on the yarn carrier but also provides convenient means formanually handling the yarn package without touching the yarn woundthereon. This feature of our invention is of great importance when theyarn is of such character that contact with workers hands would beharmful to the yarn. Moreover, it is obvious that the color-coded,cooperating insert members of the invention can be used in conjunctionwith devices or articles other than carriers for yarn, the informationconveyed by the visual characteristics of the insert members in suchcase being pertinent to the article on which the two members are thenremovably mounted.

What we claim is:

1. Apparatus for identification of yarn wound on a yarn carriercomprising interchangeable, cooperating insert members, each insertmember being completely removably mountable with respect to each otherand with respect to the yarn carrier and having a predetermined visualcharacteristic; the insert members comprising an annular sleeve memberand a sleeve locking member, the annular sleeve member including a bodyportion and a plurality of resilient tongue portions depending from thebody portion, the tongue portions being adapted to enter an opening inan end of the yarn carrier, each tongue portion having an inwardlyprojecting shank-engaging surface; the sleeve locking member includingan elongated shank portion having a substantially smooth circumferentialsurface and being adapted to enter the central opening of the annularsleeve member, a lower end ofthe sleeve locking member having a greaterdiameter than the shank portion and being configured for releasableengagement with the shank-engaging surfaces of the tongue portions ofthe annular sleeve member to displace the tongue portions radiallyoutwardly into locking engagement with the top of the yarn carrier whenthe locking member is fully inserted in the sleeve member; the sleevelocking member being completely removable from the annular sleeve memberto release the insert members from locking engagement with the yarncarrier.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve member hasa generally cylindrical main body portion and a skirt portion dependingfrom the main body portion, the

spaced vertical slots extending substantially the full length of theskirt portion, the vertical slots defining a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced resilient tongue portions.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sleeve locking memberfurther includes a flangelike upper portion.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve member isformed with a shoulder portion adapted to abut against an upwardlyfacing surface of a yarn carrier when the resilient tongue portions ofthe annular sleeve member are fully inserted into an opening formed inthe yarn carrier.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve memberincludes an annular shoulder member that is separated from at least apart of the body portion by an annular recess, the shoulder member beingadapted to abut against an upwardly facing surface of a yarn carrierwhen said resilient tongue portions are fully inserted into an openingformed in said yarn carrier.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sleeve locking member isformed with a shoulder portion adapted to abut against an upwardlyfacing annular surface of the annular sleeve member when the shankportion of the locking member is fully inserted into the sleeve member.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve member isprovided with an upper flange portion, and in which the sleeve lockingmember is provided with a flan gelike upper portion, the diameter of theflange portion, of the annular sleeve member being greater than thediameter of the flangelike upper portion of the sleeve locking member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in which the flangelike upper portionof the sleeve locking member is spaced a slight distance away from theupper flange portion of the annular sleeve member when the shank portionof the locking member is fully inserted into said sleeve member, and inwhich the upper flange portion of the sleeve member is spaced a slightdistance away from the top of the yarn carrier when the tongue portionsof the sleeve member are fully inserted in the opening formed in theyarn carrier.

9. in combination with a yarn carrier having a main body and a top endcap secured thereto, yarn identification means removably mounted on thetop end cap of the carrier for denoting the source, type and characterof the yarn wound on the carrier, the yarn identification meanscomprising an annular sleeve member including a body portion and aplurality of resilient tongue portions depending from the body portion,the tongue portion being adapted to enter an opening in an end of theyarn carrier, each tongue portion having an inwardly projectingshank-engaging surface; and, a sleeve locking member including anelongated shank portion having a substantially smooth circumferentialsurface and being adapted to enter the central opening of the annularsleeve member, a lower end of the sleeve locking member having a greaterdiameter than the shank portion and being configured for releasableengagement with the shank-engaging surfaces of the tongue portions ofthe annular sleeve member to displace the tongue portions radiallyoutwardly into locking engagement with the top of the yarn carrier whenthe locking member is fully inserted in the sleeve member; the sleevelocking member being completely removable from the annular sleeve memberto release the insen members from locking engagement with the yarncarrier.

10. The combination according to claim 9 in which the annular sleevemember has a generally cylindrical main body portion and a skirt portiondepending from the main body portion, the skirt portion being formedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical slots extendingsubstantially the full length of said skirt portion, the vertical slotsdefining a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient tongueportions.

11, The combination according to claim 9 in which the sleeve lockingmember further includes a flangelike upper portion. 7

12. The combination according to claim 9 in which the annular sleevemember is provided with an upper flange portion, and in which the sleevelocking member is provided with a flangelike upper portion, the diameterof the flange portion of the annular sleeve member being greater thanthe diameter of the flangelike upper portion of the sleeve lockingmember.

when the tongue portions of the sleeve member are fully inserted in theopening formed in said yarn carrier, whereby the top of the yarncarrier, the upper flange portion of the sleeve member and theflangelike portion of the locking member are visible to an observerbelow the levels of the yarn carrier.

1. Apparatus for identification of yarn wound on a yarn carriercomprising interchangeable, cooperating insert members, each insertmember being completely removably mountable with respect to each otherand with respect to the yarn carrier and having a predetermined visualcharacteristic; the insert members comprising an annular sleeve memberand a sleeve locking member, the annular sleeve member including a bodyportion and a plurality of resilient tongue portions depending from thebody portion, the tongue portions being adapted to enter an opening inan end of the yarn carrier, each tongue portion having an inwardlyprojecting shank-engaging surface; the sleeve locking member includingan elongated shank portion having a substantially smooth circumferentialsurface and being adapted to enter the central opening of the annularsleeve member, a lower end of the sleeve locking member having a greaterdiameter than the shank portion and being configured for releasableengagement with the shank-engaging surfaces of the tongue portions ofthe annular sleeve member to displace the tongue portions radiallyoutwardly into locking engagement with the top of the yarn carrier whenthe locking member is fully inserted in the sleeve member; the sleevelocking member being completely removable from the annular sleeve memberto release the insert members from locking engagement with the yarncarrier.
 2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleevemember has a generally cylindrical main body portion and a skirt portiondepending from the main body portion, the skirt portion being formedwith a plurality of circumferentially spaced vertical slots extendingsubstantially the full length of the skirt portion, the vertical slotsdefining a plurality of circumferentially spaced resilient tongueportions.
 3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the sleeve lockingmember further includes a flangelike upper portion.
 4. Apparatusaccording to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve member is formed with ashoulder portion adapted to abut against an upwardly facing surface of ayarn carrier when the resilient tongue portions of the annular sleevemember are fully inserted into an opening formed in the yarn carrier. 5.Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the annular sleeve memberincludes an annular shoulder member that is separated from at least apart of the body portion by an annular recess, the shoulder member beingadapted to abut against an upwardly facing surface of a yarn carrierwhen said resilient tongue portions are fully inserted into an openingformed in said yarn carrier.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in whichthe sleeve locking member is formed with a shoulder portion adapted toabut against an upwardly facing annular surface of the annular sleevemember when the shank portion of the locking member is fully insertedinto the sleeve member.
 7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which theannular sleeve member is provided with an upper flange portion, and inwhich the sleeve locking member is provided with a flangelike upperportion, the diameter of the flange portion, of the annular sleevemember being greater than the diameter of the flangelike upper portionof the sleeve locking member.
 8. Apparatus according to claim 7 in whichthe flangelike upper portion of the sleeve locking member is spaced aslight distance away from the upper flange portion of the annular sleevemember when the shank portion of the locking member is fully insertedinto said sleeve member, and in which the upper flange portion of thesleeve member is spaced a slight distance away from the top of the yarncarrier when the tongue portions of the sleeve member are fully insertedin the opening formed in the yarn carrier.
 9. In combination with a yarncarrier having a main body and a top end cap secured thereto, yarnidentification means removably mounted on the top end cap of the carrierfor denoting the source, type and character of the yarn wound on thecarrier, the yarn identification means comprising an annular sleevemember including a body portion and a plurality of resilient tongueportions depending from the body portion, the tongue portion beingadapted to enter an opening in an end of the yarn carrier, each tongueportion having an inwardly projecting shank-engaging surface; and, asleeve locking member including an elongated shank portion having asubstantially smooth circumferential surface and being adapted to enterthe central opening of the annular sleeve member, a lower end of thesleeve locking member having a greater diameter than the shank portionand being configured for releasable engagement with the shank-engagingsurfaces of the tongue portions of the annular sleeve member to displacethe tongue portions radially outwardly into locking engagement with thetop of the yarn carrier when the locking member is fully inserted in thesleeve member; the sleeve locking member being completely removable fromthe annular sleeve member to release the insert members from lockingengagement with the yarn carrier.
 10. The combination according to claim9 in which the annular sleeve member has a generally cylindrical mainbody portion and a skirt portion depending from the main body portion,the skirt portion being formed with a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced vertical slots extending substantially the full length of saidskirt portion, the vertical slots defining a plurality ofcircumferentially spaced resilient tongue portions.
 11. The combinationaccording to claim 9 in which the sleeve locking member further includesa flangelike upper portion.
 12. The combination according to claim 9 inwhich the annular sleeve member is provided with an upper flangeportion, and in which the sleeve locking member is provided with aflangelike upper portion, the diameter of the flange portion of theannular sleeve member being greater than the diameter of the flangelikeupper portion of the sleeve locking member.
 13. The combinationaccording to claim 12 in which the flangelike upper portion of thesleeve locking member is spaced a slight distance away from the upperflange portion of the annular sleeve member when the shank portion ofthe locking member is fully inserted into the sleeve member, and inwhich the upper flange portion of the sleeve member is spaced a slightdistance away from the top of the yarn carrier when the tongue portionsof the sleeve member are fully inserted in the opening formed in saidyarn carrier, whereby the top of the yarn carrier, the upper flangeportion of the sleeve member and the flangelike portion of the lockingmember are visible to an observer below the levels of the yarn carrier.